Airline Pilot Central Forums - Another drunk pilot

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Since when do doctors know everything? If they were so good why is do ambulance chasers make so much money??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Confused (Post 1137177)

Well if he has so much to gain in your eyes I suggest you go to work drunk tomorrow so your future can be so much brighter.

Genius I know.... we should all do it.

I have a real suggestion though. Quit your job. It sounds like you are bitter and hate it, so do everyone around you a favor and leave. Despite what you may think nobody likes to hear a whiner.

Well said. Adios whiner. Take your high school diploma and/or aviation degree and go find out what it will do for you in America today. You might just find yourself back here lickity-split with some perspective and a much improved attitude.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeGreaseMan (Post 1137304)

Or your dad should have had a job in some other industry other than transportation if his disease was so challenging. It sounds from the few sentences you wrote that he was able to control his disease and do his job where others have not.

People make mistakes, we are human. I am of the belief that if you do mess up and show up to the plane drunk you should go to jail and loose you job. It doesn't matter if you are suffering from a disease or plain stupidity, You only get one chance IMO.

My college roommate died last week in a car accident. He was driving down the wrong side of the highway in the early hours of the morning. I have felt both sorrow and anger, because he hit anther vehicle head on and killed four innocent people.

I want to invite you, and the others to educate yourself on the HIMS program. I was going to refrain from commenting on this thread but after your post I felt I needed to. My husband got a DUI after his 33rd birthday after a night out with friends (away from duty). As a result his medical was pulled by the FAA (and before you ask it was his first DUI, that's how the FAA works now so I suggest calling a cab if you like your job) anyway after being lost with no help from our company he was referred to the HIMS program, got into treatment, worked extremely hard to earn his medical back and has been sober 517 days and as a new found respect for his family, friends, life, and job. Is addiction a disease? Absolutely. But it can be controlled and you can live a happy healthy life. Some people lose the battle on occasion (Josh Hamilton comes to mind). I'm a FO on the Shuttle certificate and I don't know any more than the rest of you about this particular incident. What I do know is that it hasn't been established if he did in fact show up to work intoxicated, if he was rude to a van driver, if he has a problem with alcohol, or who was on the van with him if anyone at all. Maybe we should all reserve judgement? Wouldn't you appreciate the same?

HookEm,

Excellent post. Best wishes to you and your husband. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by thevagabond (Post 1137378)

This is an online pilot forum, this place was built for whining. Besides, the post contained little if any whining. It was more along the lines of this could be a blessing in disguise.

You can tell yourself whatever you have to in order to sleep at night. If you backed yourself into a corner by only having a high school degree or an aviation only degree with no other skills then I agree, good luck. Most pilots I know are smarter than that and have an out, what kind of pilot doesn't leave themselves with a plan B? In ten years I'm sure you'll still be telling yourself that if you can just stick it out for two more years there will be Majors knocking down your door for your services.

Addiction - a continued involvement with a substance or activity despite the negative consequences associated with it. Wiki

Example - Alcoholism, Aviation Career ect. :) Knowingly pursuing something that does you harm in the long run. We all are guilty of that or else we would have become plumbers or dentists.

Skyhigh

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyHigh (Post 1137416)

How's that dead horse working out for you, Skyhigh?

Airline Pilot Life

The airline pilot life lends itself well to alcoholism. You are always on the road a midst unfamiliar surroundings and strangers most of the time. Biorhythms are perpetually askew. Awake when you should be asleep and trying to sleep when you are alert. Add to that the depression that comes along with the messed up body clock, bad diet, loneliness, loss of self worth and poverty. People tend to self medicate. A little booze can make instant best friends out of those you haven't met before and make a cold concrete hotel room feel like home.

Skyhigh

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1137420)

How's that dead horse working out for you, Skyhigh?

Good so far. ;) I don't think the horse is quite dead yet though. How is your horse doing?

Skyhigh

Realistically pilots today probably should avoid all alcohol both on and off duty. Just too many ways to blow it. It takes a massive investment to get to an airline. One slip up on a day off can ruin decades of effort. Not worth it.

Don't forget FAR 91.17 While under the influence of alcohol. Not just drunk. Hung over counts too. 8 hours from bottle to throttle means a glass of wine at dinner not a bottle of whiskey then stop right at 8 hours prior to push. A swimmy head and pounding headache effects the safety of flight.

Skyhigh